WHO African region has got the highest maternal mortality rate compared to the other five regions. Maternal mortality is hypothesized to have significantly negative effect on the gross domestic product (GDP). The objective of the current study was to estimate the loss in GDP attributable to maternal mortality in the WHO African Region. The burden of maternal mortality on GDP was estimated using a doublelog econometric model. The analysis is based on cross-sectional data for 45 of the 46 Member States in the WHO African Region. Data were obtained from UNDP and the World Bank publications. All the explanatory variables included in the doublelog model were found to have statistically significant effect on per capita gross domestic product (GDP) at 5level in a t-distribution test. The coefficients for land (D); capital (K); educational enrolment (EN) and exports (X) had a positive sign; while labor (L); imports (M) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) were found to impact negatively on GDP. Maternal mortality of a single person was found to reduce per capita GDP by US$ 0.36 per year. The study has demonstrated that maternal mortality has a statistically significant negative effect on GDP. Thus; as policy-makers strive to increase GDP through land reform programs; capital investments; export promotion and increase in educational enrolment; they should always remember that investments in maternal mortalityreducing interventions promises significant economic returns

WHO African region has got the highest maternal mortality rate compared to the other five regions. Maternal mortality is hypothesized to have significantly negative effect on the gross domestic product (GDP). The objective of the current study was to estimate the loss in GDP attributable to maternal mortality in the WHO African Region. The burden of maternal mortality on GDP was estimated using a doublelog econometric model. The analysis is based on cross-sectional data for 45 of the 46 Member States in the WHO African Region. Data were obtained from UNDP and the World Bank publications. All the explanatory variables included in the doublelog model were found to have statistically significant effect on per capita gross domestic product (GDP) at 5level in a t-distribution test. The coefficients for land (D); capital (K); educational enrolment (EN) and exports (X) had a positive sign; while labor (L); imports (M) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) were found to impact negatively on GDP. Maternal mortality of a single person was found to reduce per capita GDP by US$ 0.36 per year. The study has demonstrated that maternal mortality has a statistically significant negative effect on GDP. Thus; as policy-makers strive to increase GDP through land reform programs; capital investments; export promotion and increase in educational enrolment; they should always remember that investments in maternal mortalityreducing interventions promises significant economic returns

Determinants of Social Inequalities in Child Mortality in Mozambique: What do We Know? What Could be Done? / Macassa; G.Burstrom; B.

Health inequalities are no longer an issue only for developed countries. In recent years there is agreement that all countries present health inequalities regardless of their level of wealth. In low-income countries and especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of the poor people live as well as their children; research on child health inequalities is still scarce. This review of evidence suggests that if Mozambique is to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015 further research on important determinants of disparities in child mortality is urgently needed

Health inequalities are no longer an issue only for developed countries. In recent years there is agreement that all countries present health inequalities regardless of their level of wealth. In low-income countries and especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of the poor people live as well as their children; research on child health inequalities is still scarce. This review of evidence suggests that if Mozambique is to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015 further research on important determinants of disparities in child mortality is urgently needed

The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba; Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 - 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1) than in the dry season (44.2) with a significant difference (P=0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals 15 years old; had significantly higher malaria parasite prevalence (55.5) than those 15 years (37.4). Malaria parasite prevalence (P=0.001) and parasite density (P=0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8) and A. funestus (32.8) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba

The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba; Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 - 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1) than in the dry season (44.2) with a significant difference (P=0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals 15 years old; had significantly higher malaria parasite prevalence (55.5) than those 15 years (37.4). Malaria parasite prevalence (P=0.001) and parasite density (P=0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8) and A. funestus (32.8) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba

Community-directed Treatment of Lymphatic Filariasis in Kenya and its Role in the National Programmes for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis / Wamae; N.Njenga; S. M.Kisingu; W. M.Muthigani; P. W.Kiiru; K.

We conducted a prospective; cross-sectional study to examine and compare treatment coverage of lymphatic filariasis by the health system (HST) and a health system implemented; community-directed treatment for the control of lymphatic filariasis (ComDT/HS) in 44 randomly selected villages in coastal Kenya. Demographic information on the villages and peripheral health facilities to guide design and implementation was obtained from a situation analysis phase of this study. A series of interactive training sessions on basic biology of lymphatic filariasis; concept and philosophy of ComDT/HS were given to members of the District Health Management Team (DHMT); peripheral health staff; community leaders and community drug distributors (CDDs) prior to ivermectin distribution. An intensive sensitization process of the community by the trained peripheral health staff and community leaders followed before selection of the CDDs. Quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation of the study were collected by coverage surveys of randomly selected households; focus group discussions and interviews; immediately after the drug distribution. Treatment coverage of all eligible persons was 46.5 and 88in HST and ComDT/HS villages; respectively; P 0.001. In comparing treatment coverage by the two study arms in relationship to the distance from a health facility; coverage among HST and not ComDT/HS villages was influenced by distance. In Kenya; ComDT/HS can effectively be implemented by the regular health system and can attain coverage levels compatible with the global filariasis elimination goal.

We conducted a prospective; cross-sectional study to examine and compare treatment coverage of lymphatic filariasis by the health system (HST) and a health system implemented; community-directed treatment for the control of lymphatic filariasis (ComDT/HS) in 44 randomly selected villages in coastal Kenya. Demographic information on the villages and peripheral health facilities to guide design and implementation was obtained from a situation analysis phase of this study. A series of interactive training sessions on basic biology of lymphatic filariasis; concept and philosophy of ComDT/HS were given to members of the District Health Management Team (DHMT); peripheral health staff; community leaders and community drug distributors (CDDs) prior to ivermectin distribution. An intensive sensitization process of the community by the trained peripheral health staff and community leaders followed before selection of the CDDs. Quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation of the study were collected by coverage surveys of randomly selected households; focus group discussions and interviews; immediately after the drug distribution. Treatment coverage of all eligible persons was 46.5 and 88in HST and ComDT/HS villages; respectively; P 0.001. In comparing treatment coverage by the two study arms in relationship to the distance from a health facility; coverage among HST and not ComDT/HS villages was influenced by distance. In Kenya; ComDT/HS can effectively be implemented by the regular health system and can attain coverage levels compatible with the global filariasis elimination goal.

The objective of the study was to investigate the recent trends and magnitude of pediatric HIV-infection in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. It is a descriptive study of 1;559 consecutively recruited children (0-16 years); in whom laboratory requests for HIV screening were made; and seen in the Pediatrics Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1999 to December 2004 were evaluated for HIV -infection. The overall prevalence obtained was 25.8. HIV-1 constituted the predominant viral serotype (97.6) compared to HIV-2 (2.4). The peak HIV seropositivity occurred in pediatrics 6-8 years. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence rate based on gender (OR = 1; p = 0.98). Children with clinical diagnosis of bronchopneumonia; neonatal sepsis; septicemia and pulmonary tuberculosis had higher prevalence of HIV seropositivity. There is a trend of increasing HIV prevalence from 1999 to 2004 (?2 for trend= 6.23; p = 0.39). History of previous blood transfusion was not significantly associated with HIV positivity (OR = 0.94; p = 0.94). This study shows that; in spite of the anti HIV campaign; there is a high prevalence of HIV among children attending tertiary health institution in the Niger Delta of Nigeria and the trend is increasing over the last 5 years. This calls for a re-intensified effort on health education and risk control programme; provision of antiretroviral regimen to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; provision of supportive environment for voluntary counseling and confidential testing of pregnant women coupled with the provision of pediatric antiretroviral therapy to reduce HIV-related mortality and morbidity of HIV-infected Nigerian children

The objective of the study was to investigate the recent trends and magnitude of pediatric HIV-infection in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. It is a descriptive study of 1;559 consecutively recruited children (0-16 years); in whom laboratory requests for HIV screening were made; and seen in the Pediatrics Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1999 to December 2004 were evaluated for HIV -infection. The overall prevalence obtained was 25.8. HIV-1 constituted the predominant viral serotype (97.6) compared to HIV-2 (2.4). The peak HIV seropositivity occurred in pediatrics 6-8 years. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence rate based on gender (OR = 1; p = 0.98). Children with clinical diagnosis of bronchopneumonia; neonatal sepsis; septicemia and pulmonary tuberculosis had higher prevalence of HIV seropositivity. There is a trend of increasing HIV prevalence from 1999 to 2004 (?2 for trend= 6.23; p = 0.39). History of previous blood transfusion was not significantly associated with HIV positivity (OR = 0.94; p = 0.94). This study shows that; in spite of the anti HIV campaign; there is a high prevalence of HIV among children attending tertiary health institution in the Niger Delta of Nigeria and the trend is increasing over the last 5 years. This calls for a re-intensified effort on health education and risk control programme; provision of antiretroviral regimen to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; provision of supportive environment for voluntary counseling and confidential testing of pregnant women coupled with the provision of pediatric antiretroviral therapy to reduce HIV-related mortality and morbidity of HIV-infected Nigerian children